Tuesday was the day many Tulane fans had been waiting for – when they would find out who would start at quarterback after the graduation of Ryan Griffin.

“We finally got all the tabulations, we did everything, we dotted I’s and cross T’s – and Nick Montana is going to be our starter,” Tulane coach Curtis Johnson said. “We’ll back him up with Devin Powell and Tanner Lee, and we’re also going to put Jordy Joseph in the game in some packages.”

Everyone else found out on Tuesday that Nick Montana would be the starting quarterback. That’s something that seemed obvious within the team, however.

“I guess for everybody else it’s relief but we feel like we kind of knew,” center Zach Morgan said at Tuesday’s season debut media luncheon. “Nick’s worked hard for it. … I think he deserves it, he’s ready for it.”

Montana has been in competition with redshirt freshman Powell, true freshman Tanner Lee, and junior walk-on Jordy Joseph. But Montana began pulling away from the trio from the first day when he walked up to the line of scrimmage, and bellowed the receivers into position.

“He’s played before,” Green Wave offensive coordinator Eric Price said. “We have some younger guys out there. Powell played a little bit last year but it was not a great situation for him to be in, getting thrown into the fire like that (when Griffin went out with an injury in the Sept. 8 Tulsa game) and he was brand-new – so Powell’s a lot better than he was last year. But Nick’s played in junior college for a year, he played at Washington, a few games there, so he’s been around football, nd obviously this is his whole life and the X’s and O’s and some of those things. He’s really worked hard and learned the offense since last spring so he really feels comfortable now.”

Montana threw for more than 2,000 yards for Mt. San Antonio Junior College last season and played in six games for Washington his freshman year.

“We just feel that Nick gives us the best chance to win, win right now, win every game, and I think he’ll do a fantastic job for us,” Johnson said.

Montana’s greatest quality might be his ability to relate to his teammates and organize the offense.

“He kind of came in here and was real down-to-earth, low-key, got to know everybody and he can deal with any type of kid,” Price said. “When he talks – now that he knows what he is doing by scheme — they listen to him because they like him and they know that he knows what he is doing. Right now the chemistry between our offense and him is great.”

Morgan said he has worked with Montana all summer and developed a snap chemistry. All the linemen were so used to Griffin’s style – but Morgan said he has a little more room to breathe with Montana behind him.

“The only difference is under center, Griff used to get really in there and Nick’s not that far in there,” Morgan said, with a laugh.

With the passer set for the Thursday’s season debut against Jackson State in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, now the team can turn its attention to kicking off the season with a victory.

“Our team is raring to go,” Johnson said. “They’re really ready. I think we’re 180 degrees from where we were a year ago. I just think we’re at the brink of something special. I want them to feel good. We’re going to start this game against Jackson State (on Thursday) and hopefully this will be a big win for the future.”

Peeples connection

Tulane is still waiting for final clearance to bring LSU transfer Jeremy Peeples onto the football field. But another LSU transfer defensive lineman – Chris Davenport — said he’s just glad Peeples is on campus. Peeples approached Davenport about transferring to Tulane.

Davenport graduated from LSU and transferred in January to attend graduate school and play his senior season for the Green Wave. A few months later, Peeples called Davenport. “He called me on the phone and he was like, 'I’m graduating in August and I’m trying to play football again,'” Davenport said. “He was like, 'I’m thinking about Tulane. Tulane has the degree field I want to go in to get my Master’s.... Call Coach CJ and see if he’ll have me.'... And now he’s here, the rest is history.”

Devon Walker update

Tulane coach Curtis Johnson said he spent a lot of time on Monday with Devon Walker, who broke his neck last season and has been rehabilitating the injury ever since. “I think the highlight of camp this camp so far, the highlight of my day and the highlight of this time period around us entering classes for the first day yesterday, is Devon Walker is taking his classes for the first time since the injury,” Johnson said.

“This young man is very, very courageous. He’s one of my idols. I spent two hours with him yesterday at a fundraiser and he just had the best spirit in the world," Johnson said. "I just wanted to announce that. Any time we can uplift him and pray for him, he’s always in my thoughts and prayers.”

Walker will take nine hours this fall related to his science major and has 30 hours left to complete to graduate. Walker will split his week between classes and his aggressive rehabilitation schedule.